CALGARY - Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees in Alberta rose in October by the second highest annual rate in the country among provinces.

Statistics Canada reported Thursday that earnings in the province jumped by 6.6 per cent to $1,012.54. Only Saskatchewan saw a higher rate of growth at 7.7 per cent but average weekly earnings are $875.47 in that province.

Alberta also witnessed a 1.6 per cent increase from the previous month.

At the national level, the federal agency said average weekly earnings rose 4.4 per cent to $863.33 from October 2009. On a monthly basis, the level was the same.

The highest average weekly earnings are in the Northwest Territories at $1,220.52.

"Earnings in the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector have been on a strong upward trend since their recent low in August 2009. From October 2009 to October 2010, earnings in this sector have risen by 13.6 per cent to lead all industrial sectors. Growth was strong in all mining, quarrying, oil and gas industries," said Statistics Canada.

Across the country, non-farm payroll employees increased by 1.7 per cent in October from October 2009 to 14.735 million but it was down 0.1 per cent from September. In Alberta, that number rose 2.7 per cent from a year ago and 0.2 per cent from the previous month to 1.761 million

mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com